Arkansas LPE Requirements: Hours, Exams & Step-by-Step Guide

Licensure as a Licensed Psychological Examiner (LPE) in Arkansas is governed by the Arkansas Psychology Board's rules (17 CAR Part 95) and Arkansas Code §17-97-303. The Board's rules still use the term "psychological examiner," while the license is commonly referred to as Licensed Psychological Examiner (LPE); they are the same credential for licensing purposes. (17 CAR § 95-403)

The LPE is being phased out. Under Act 433 of 2025, no new psychological examiner license will be issued after December 31, 2026, and independent practice for master's-level psychology providers moves to the new Licensed Psychological Practitioner (LPP) license. (Act 433 of 2025; 17 CAR §§ 95-403(g), 95-408) These are the current core, hour-based and other requirements.

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1. Big-picture snapshot of LPE requirements

To become licensed as an LPE/psychological examiner in Arkansas (applications must be completed in time for a license to be issued by December 31, 2026) you must:

• Hold a qualifying master's degree in psychology or a closely related field. (17 CAR § 95-403(a))
• Complete at least 45 graduate semester hours in psychology (or 75 quarter hours), including specified core coursework. (17 CAR § 95-403(b))
• Complete a formal internship totaling a minimum of 600 clock hours of supervised experience directly related to your intended practice. (17 CAR § 95-403(c))
  • At least 25% of this internship must be in direct contact with persons served (the rule notes a minimum of 125 hours). (17 CAR § 95-403(c)(2)(F))
• Submit required references from qualified psychologists and program officials. (17 CAR § 95-403(e))
• Pass the examinations the Board requires: the statute calls for passing "examinations, written or oral, or both, as the board deems necessary," and the Board uses the national ASPPB examination (EPPP). (A.C.A. § 17-97-303(b)(1)(B); 17 CAR § 95-703)
• Meet all statutory fitness and background criteria in Arkansas Code §17-97-303 (criminal background, ethics, etc.). (law.justia.com)

For Independent Practice status (LPE-I):

• Historically, LPEs licensed after 12/31/1997 needed 3,000 hours of approved clinical supervised training, under a Board-approved supervisor, to practice independently. (law.justia.com)
• However, independent status is no longer available as an add-on to the LPE. State law bars it for anyone licensed after December 31, 2024, and Act 433 of 2025 removed independent practice privileges from psychological examiners. LPEs who already had independent status on or before December 31, 2024, can move to the new LPP license without meeting its education and supervision requirements; others seek independence through the LPP route. (Act 433 of 2025; 17 CAR § 95-408(b)(3)-(4))

There is no Arkansas requirement that splits experience into something like 1,500 hours of direct and 1,500 hours of supervised experience. The only explicit pre-licensure hour total for the LPE is the 600-hour supervised internship (with a 25% direct-contact requirement). The post-degree hour totals that matter now belong to the LPP: 3,000 supervised hours, including 2,200 hours of direct client service. (17 CAR § 95-408)

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2. Educational requirements for the LPE

2.1 Degree and program structure

Under 17 CAR § 95-403, an applicant for licensure as a psychological examiner/LPE must: (17 CAR § 95-403(a))

• Have a master's degree in psychology or a closely related field from an accredited institution recognized by the Board.
• Complete a program that:
  • Is a "recognizable coherent entity within the institution" (i.e., an organized psychology program).
  • Is an integrated, organized sequence of study (not random coursework).
  • Has an identifiable psychology faculty and a matriculated body of students in that program.
  • Includes a supervised practicum or internship, or field laboratory training appropriate to the practice of psychology.
  • Covers at least two academic years of full-time graduate study, including ethics, research design, statistics and psychometrics. (17 CAR § 95-403(a)(2))

2.2 Minimum graduate hours and core content

The rules specify that your program of study must include: (17 CAR § 95-403(b))

• At least 45 graduate semester hours (or 75 quarter hours) with an average grade of "B" or better.
• Graduate-level coursework (3 semester hours each) with a grade of "B" or above in at least seven of a list of core psychological areas, including (among others):
  • Learning (theories or processes)
  • Statistics (descriptive and inferential)
  • Individual Intelligence Testing with practicum
  • Individual Personality Appraisal
  • Behavior Deviation/Abnormal Psychology
  • Personality Theories
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Psychotherapy Theories & Techniques
  • Social Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Research Design
  • Behavior Theory/Behavior Techniques
  • Physiological Psychology or Sensation and Perception
  • Ethics and/or Professional Issues

Additionally, at least 15 graduate semester hours must specifically support your Statement of Intent to practice psychology (the areas of practice you are proposing to the Board). (17 CAR § 95-403(b)(5))

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3. Required supervised experience hours for initial LPE licensure

The only explicit pre-licensure hour requirement for the LPE itself in Board rules is the internship requirement in 17 CAR § 95-403(c). (17 CAR § 95-403(c))

3.1 The 600-hour supervised internship

The rules require:

• "A minimum of six hundred (600) clock hours of supervised experience" obtained by formal internship,
• The experience must be "directly related to the intended use of the license as defined by the statement of intent". (17 CAR § 95-403(c)(1))

This 600-hour internship is not broken into separate direct- vs indirect-experience totals the way some other states do. Instead, the Board controls the mix of activities via more general conditions.

3.2 Distribution of hours and direct client contact

Within those 600 hours, the internship must meet several conditions; the hour-related ones are: (17 CAR § 95-403(c)(2))

• The internship must provide training in a range of assessment and treatment activities with persons receiving health services or in school-based assessment/treatment planning.
• At least 25% of the intern's time must be in direct contact with persons served; the rule notes a minimum of 125 hours of direct contact.
• The internship must include at least one hour per week of regularly scheduled, formal, face-to-face individual supervision that specifically addresses services rendered directly by the intern.
• The internship must be completed within 24 months, and must come after practicum and/or clerkship.

These internship hours are, by definition, supervised experience. Arkansas does not add a separate requirement such as 1,500 unsupervised direct hours plus 1,500 supervised hours; instead, it requires one block of 600 supervised internship hours with the 25% direct-contact minimum.

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4. Application and documentation requirements

4.1 Application process (Board practice)

On its website, the Board explains that applicants must first request an Application Request Form by email; the Board then sends the full application packet, which must be returned by mail with a small check (currently $10) to the Board office. (psychologyboard.arkansas.gov)

All LPE requirements themselves are found in 17 CAR Part 95 (§ 95-403) and in Subchapter 3 (Licensing) of Chapter 97 of the Arkansas Code, as amended by Act 573 of 2023 and Act 433 of 2025. (psychologyboard.arkansas.gov)

4.2 References and supporting documents

The rules require: (17 CAR § 95-403(e))

• A reference from the director of your academic training program documenting successful completion.
• Three professional references from qualified psychologists who have direct and comprehensive knowledge of your competence.
• A complete Statement of Intent to practice psychology, describing:
  • Your intended populations,
  • Types of services,
  • Settings in which you will practice.

You must also meet statutory conditions in §17-97-303, including: (law.justia.com)

• Criminal background check with no disqualifying offenses.
• Demonstrated competence via examination.
• No recent failed Board exam (within the previous 6 months).

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5. Examination and interview requirements

5.1 Written examination (EPPP)

17 CAR § 95-703 requires applicants to take the national professional practice examination developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The Board describes this as assessing your range of knowledge of psychological principles and techniques, and of the ethics of the profession. (17 CAR § 95-703)

For scoring:

• Passing scores are set "in accordance with the standards of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards." (17 CAR § 95-703(e)(2))
• The older percentage cut-off (60%) for psychological examiners is no longer in the rules. The Board's Applicants page lists a minimum passing score of 500; confirm with the Board which passing score applies to psychological examiner applicants. (psychologyboard.arkansas.gov)

5.2 Oral examination

The statute allows the Board to require examinations "written or oral, or both, as the board deems necessary." (A.C.A. § 17-97-303(b)(1)(B))

• The detailed oral examination procedure in the older rules (two Board-licensed examiners, review of your Statement of Intent, title use, supervision and Arkansas law) does not appear in the current 17 CAR Part 95.
• The Board's Applicants page lists an oral re-examination fee, so oral interviews may still be scheduled in some cases. Ask the Board whether one applies to your application.

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6. Supervision requirements after LPE licensure

Once licensed as an LPE, you do not practice independently in all domains.

Board rules and Arkansas Code require that: (17 CAR § 95-503(b))

• Psychological examiners can practice psychoeducational evaluation and diagnosis without supervision.
• But for "overall personality appraisal or classification, personality counseling, psychotherapy, or personality adjustment techniques," an LPE must practice under supervision by a licensed psychologist.
• The Board requires an annual Supervision Report, due by June 30 each year, for any LPE whose practice includes activities that, by law, require supervision, documenting supervision frequency and content. Any change in the supervisory relationship must be reported in writing within 10 working days. (17 CAR § 95-503(b))

These supervision rules govern activities, not a fixed number of post-licensure hours.

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7. Independent Practice (LPE-I) and the 3,000-hour requirement

7.1 Traditional LPE-I pathway and hours

The older Board rules (Section 5.3.5) created "Requirements for Licensure As a Psychological Examiner With Independent Practice Privileges (LPE-I)." That section is not in the current 17 CAR Part 95. (regulations.justia.com)

Under that older framework:

• Prerequisite: You had to already hold an LPE license or meet all LPE requirements with a master's degree in psychology.
• Licensed prior to 12/31/1997:
  • Submit a letter requesting independent practice and a revised Statement of Intent for Independent Practice.
  • Independent practice excluded neuropsychological assessment, forensic psychological assessment and projective personality assessment.
  • No additional supervised hours were required.
• Licensed after 12/31/1997 (but on or before the 2024 cutoff described below):
  • Submit a revised Statement of Intent (again excluding those assessments).
  • Complete 3,000 hours of clinical training, defined as direct and indirect client service, under a Board-approved supervision plan approved before the hours began.

In statute, parallel language in Arkansas Code §17-97-303(d)(2), before Act 433 of 2025, required a psychological examiner seeking independent status after 12/31/1997 to have "completed three thousand (3,000) hours of approved clinical supervised training" after applying for independent practice. (law.justia.com)

7.2 Bar on independent status and the new LPP license

Act 573 of 2023 amended Arkansas Code §17-97-303 to add:

• "A psychological examiner licensed after December 31, 2024, shall not be granted independent practice status if he or she submits an application to the board for independent practice."

Act 433 of 2025 then removed independent practice privileges from psychological examiners and created the Licensed Psychological Practitioner (LPP), who may practice independently except in neuropsychological, forensic and projective personality assessment. (Act 433 of 2025; A.C.A. § 17-97-313; 17 CAR § 95-408)

That means:

• If you were an LPE granted independent practice on or before 12/31/2024, you are not required to meet the LPP education and supervision requirements to become an LPP. (17 CAR § 95-408(b)(3))
• If you are an LPE without independent status, you can seek independence by changing status to LPP: pay a $150 fee, apply, and complete the LPP post-degree supervision (3,000 hours, including 2,200 hours of direct client service, 1 hour of supervision per 10 hours of direct service for the first 1,000 hours and 1 per 20 after that, and 100 hours of didactic learning per year). The rule lets LPEs licensed after December 31, 2023 seek this as a provisionally licensed psychological practitioner. (17 CAR § 95-408(b)(4), (g))

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8. Practical step-by-step roadmap

Putting the rules and statutes together, an aspiring LPE in Arkansas would typically:

1. Complete a qualifying master's program

   • Ensure it is in psychology or a closely related field and meets the Board's program criteria (coherent entity, organized sequence, practicum/internship). (17 CAR § 95-403(a))
   • Accumulate at least 45 graduate semester hours and the required spread of core courses.

2. Complete the 600-hour supervised internship

   • Make sure the internship meets all 17 CAR § 95-403(c) criteria, including:
     • Minimum 600 clock hours total supervised experience.
     • At least 25% (at least 125 hours) direct client contact.
     • At least 1 hour/week of formal, face-to-face supervision. (17 CAR § 95-403(c))

3. Request an application packet from the Arkansas Psychology Board

   • Email the Board for the Application Request Form; complete it to receive the full application.
   • Return the completed application packet by mail with the required application fee/check. (psychologyboard.arkansas.gov)
   • Leave enough time: no new LPE license can be issued after December 31, 2026.

4. Gather references and documentation

   • Obtain the program director's reference and three references from qualified psychologists who know your competence. (17 CAR § 95-403(e))
   • Prepare your Statement of Intent describing your proposed areas of practice.

5. Undergo background and fitness review

   • Apply for and pass the required state and national criminal background check and meet the ethical/fitness requirements in §17-97-303. (law.justia.com)

6. Pass the EPPP

   • Sit for the EPPP and meet the passing score the Board applies under ASPPB standards. (17 CAR § 95-703)

7. Complete any oral examination/interview the Board requires

   • If scheduled, demonstrate competence in ethics, law, and your proposed practice. (A.C.A. § 17-97-303(b)(1)(B))

8. Maintain appropriate supervision in practice

   • Once licensed, practice within your Statement of Intent and under supervision when required (e.g., for psychotherapy, personality appraisal), filing annual supervision reports by June 30 as applicable. (17 CAR § 95-503(b))

9. (If you want independent practice) Look at the LPP

   • LPE-I independent status can no longer be newly granted.
   • LPEs who already held independent status on or before 12/31/2024 can move to the LPP without new education or supervision requirements.
   • Other LPEs can change status to LPP by completing the LPP's 3,000 hours of post-degree supervision. (17 CAR § 95-408)

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Bottom line on hours

• Initial LPE licensure in Arkansas hinges on:
  • A formal internship of at least 600 clock hours of supervised experience,
  • With at least 25% of those hours in direct client contact and weekly face-to-face supervision. (17 CAR § 95-403(c))
• There is no Arkansas requirement that breaks this into something like 1,500 direct hours and 1,500 supervised hours.
• No new LPE licenses will be issued after December 31, 2026. (17 CAR § 95-403(g))
• Independent practice (LPE-I) historically required 3,000 hours of supervised clinical training; it is no longer granted, and independent practice now runs through the LPP (3,000 post-degree hours, 2,200 of them direct). (Act 433 of 2025; 17 CAR § 95-408)